Reverend Frank and Mary Cohoon papers, 1953 - 2008
Scope and Contents
Series includes papers created by Reverend Frank Cohoon regarding his ministry in the Episcopalian church from 1953 to 2008. Series also includes personal correspondence and notes as well as records created by Mary Cohoon.
Folders were mostly titled when the materials arrived at Spencer, and staff kept their original topical organization. When not available, or when providing some additional information, Spencer staff created titles [in brackets] to indicate a staff-created title. Folders appeared to be roughly organized alphabetically in original collection. Spencer staff did some minor re-arrangement to match that alphabetical order.
Materials reflect the time and circumstances in which they were made; some materials in some folders include homophobic sentiments.
Dates
- Creation: 1953 - 2008
Biography of Frank Nelson Cohoon (1925-2016)
Frank Nelson Cohoon was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Cecil and Estelle Boatman Cohoon. He graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Religion in 1947 and later graduated from the General Theological Seminary with a graduate degree in Divinity. Cohoon began his ministry with the Episcopalian church in 1953. He was officially ordained to the priesthood in December 1954 by the Diocese of Oklahoma.
From 1954-1956, Cohoon served as Vicar of Christ Memorial Church in El Reno, Oklahoma. In 1956, Cohoon and his family moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma where he serve as Rector of St. Christopher's Church until 1961. After moving to Junction City, Kansas, Cohoon served as Rector of the Church of the Covenant until 1965. In 1966, Cohoon and his family moved to Topeka, Kansas. There, Cohoon served as Rector to St. David's Episcopal Church, and at St. David's, Cohoon was named Rector Emeritus. After his work at St. David's, Cohoon became the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Kansas, a position he held until the early 2000s. During this time, he also served as Canon to the Ordinary.
With his congregational work, Cohoon served for 10 years around the 1960s as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves, eventually attaining the rank of Major. Cohoon also served as a consultant in canon law in the Diocese of Western Mexico in Gudalajara and did a substantial amount of supply work, or substitutute preaching, at churches throughout Kansas.
Cohoon married Eloise Whybark on July 6, 1949 in Oklahoma, and together they had three children: Leslie, Brian, and Cathy. In February 1991, Eloise passed away and was buried at St. David's in Topeka, Kansas. On March 1, 1992, Frank married his second wife, Mary Harlow Curry. Marry Curry had four children from her previous marriage: Lisa, George, Peggy, and Mike. Mary passed away on December 18, 2015 and was buried with her first husband, Don Arthur Curry, in Kingman, Kansas. Frank Cohoon passed away on May 25, 2016 and was buried with Eloise Whybark Cohoon at St. David's in Topeka.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository